Software Delivery in Small Batches

Proto-Epics with Jocko Selberg

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This is the first in a series of episodes on software delivery flow. This is a remix on the typical episode format. It features a snippet from my ongo...

The Zen of Programming: New Manuscripts

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Better late than never. Small Batches returns in 2025. In this episode, Adam shares his learnings over the past year through the works of the Zen mast...

Small Batches returns in 2025

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Small Batches will return in 2025. Until then, I recommend checking out the Complexity Lounge on YouTube, hosted by my friend Jocko Selberg. ★ Su...

The Zen of Programming: Part Six

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Adam reads haikus from The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any programming book you've encountered. ...

The Zen of Programming: Part Five

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Adam reads book four in The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any programming book you've encountered....

The Zen of Programming: Part Four

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Adam reads book three in The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any programming book you've encountered...

The Zen of Programming: Part Three

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Adam reads book two in The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any programming book you've encountered. ...

The Zen of Programming. Part Two.

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Adam reads book two in The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any programming book you've encountered. ...

Reading the Zen of Programming. Part One.

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Adam reads the preface, forward, and introduction to The Zen of Programming (1988) by Geoffrey James. This book is unlike any program...

Incidents & Operations with Dan Slimmon

11 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Adam welcomes Dan Slimmon, an experienced Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) to discuss aspects of incident response and troubleshooting...

Strategic Thinking with Alex Nesbitt

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Small Batches, host Adam Hawkins welcomes Alex Nesbitt, a strategy expert and member of the Flow Collective, to delve into the nuan...

Playing to Win

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam discusses strategy in preparation for the next episode.Want more?🚀 New listener? Start with the introduction.🎁 Enter the FREE giveaway for ...

On the Gemba

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam discusses three (new-ish) ideas from time on a new gemba. Want more?🚀 New listener? Start with the introduction.🎁 Enter the FREE giveaway ...

Hexagonal Architecture

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam describes using Hexagonal Architecture, also known as Ports and Adapters, for software delivery excellence.Want more?🚀 New listener? Start wit...

Flow Engineering with Steve Pereira & Andrew Davis

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam welcomes Steve Pereira and Andrew Davis to discuss their new book, Flow Engineering. They discuss the book's origin story and the use of cybernet...

T1 and T2 Signals

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents the mental model behind T1 and T2 signals, a necessary lexicon for understanding production operations.Want more?🚀 New listener? Star...

Rules of Flow

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam answers a listener's request of advice on succeeding in high-level company or project environments with seven tips.Want more?🚀 New listener? S...

Skill Zero: Test Driven Development

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents TDD as skill zero, the one that unlocks all the others.Want more?🚀 New listener? Start with the introduction.🎁 April 2024 Giveaway...

On Ops Reviews

09 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents a catch-all episode on ops reviews, visual management, call-to-actions, and SLOs.Want more?🚀 New listener? Start with the introductio...

DevOps Patterns for Private Equity with Dave Mangot

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dave Mangot returns to discuss his new book "DevOps Patterns for Private Equity". Don't let the title fool you, this is best introduction to DevOps an...

Blue-Yellow-Black Visual Management

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents visual management using simple blue, yellow, and black color grading. This is an essential episode.Want more?🚀 New listener? Start wi...

Understanding Production Operations

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents a series of questions to understand production operations, plus a method to practice: MMIVM. That's Model-Measure-Instrument-Visualize-M...

Chain of Learning with Katie Anderson

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam's welcomes Katie Anderson to the show to discuss her book Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn, lean thinking, and the powerful growth mindset.Want...

Words of the Year

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam's two most common words (verbal ticks even) from 2023. Is it a party foul to bring lean thinking into a New Year's Eve party?Want more?🚀 New l...

Deming's Journey to Profound Knowledge with John Willis

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam welcomes John Willis to discuss his new book, Deming's Journey to Profound Knowledge. We discuss why John wrote the book, Deming's career arc, an...

Wiring the Winning Organization

01 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents the ideas in Wiring the Winning Organization with a vignette from his time on gemba. Plus, a giveaway!Here's how to win a FREE copy of W...

Tips for New Managers

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Twelve tips for first-time engineering managers. Want more? ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ 🚀 New listener? Start here.🧭 Get your FREE...

Boundaries

07 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents thinking about boundaries, testing, and software design.Want more? ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ 🚀 New listener? Start he...

Estimates

04 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents how he thinks about estimates and delivery. Plus, a special announcement on something new!Want more? ★ Support this podcast on Patre...

The Mental Model

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents mental model behind lean and agile. The mental model accepts we don't know the path forward, thus we must optimize for learning it.Are y...

Language Choice

05 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents the rationale behind choosing a language or tech stack. Spoiler alert: it's irrelevant to software delivery performance. Learn More🚀...

Drift into Failure

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents thoughts on Sidney Dekker's book "Drift into Failure". 🚀 New listener? Start here.📘 Drift into Failure by Sidney Dekker📘 The ...

The Agile Manifesto

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam revisits the historic Agile Manifesto.Learn More🚀 New listener? Start here.🧠 The Agile Manifesto📘The Art of Agile Development by James S...

Iterations & Increments

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam shares an example of breaking work into increments and iterations.Learn More🚀 New listener? Start here.📘 Modern Software Engineering by Dav...

As Measured By

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam shows how the phrase, "as measured by", encourages empirical and scientific thinking.Learn More🚀 New listener? Start here.📘 Measure what Ma...

Introduction

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam describes the aims of this podcast and what listeners can expect. Here's the best way to start down the path:1. Envision the ideal: Small Batches...

Golden Signals

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents the four golden signals for steering production operations.Are you just beginning your path to excellence? Then start here.Already on th...

Set-Based Concurrent Engineering

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam comments on the importance of creating a menu of viable alternatives when problem-solving.Show notes🚀 New listener? Start with the introductio...

Flow: A Mental Model

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam introduces the idea of "flow" beginning with the Theory of Constraints and ending with value stream networks.Are you just beginning your path to ...

Core Ideas

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Learn MoreNEW! The Small Batches Slack AppToyota Kata Pocket GuideSmall Batches #71: Recommended ReadingSmall Batches #84: DemingThe Flow Collective ...

Dr. Deming

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam connects Deming's trips to Japan in 1950 with modern software delivery. This is an essential episode.Deming on Small Batches:☕️ Small Batches...

The Ideal

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam shares an end-of-year reflection on pursuing the lean ideal. This is the last episode of 2022. Small Batches will return in 2023. ★ Support ...

Leadership is Language

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents the language used to call the plays from Leadership is Language as told in The Project Banana episode. Learn More🚀 New listener? St...

Redwork / Bluework

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents the concept of redwork and bluework presented in the book "Leadership is Language".Learn More🚀 New listener? Start with the introduct...

Project Banana

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Something completely different. This episode is a short story about leadership, communication, and collaboration.Chapters(00:00) - 080 - Project Banan...

Product Management with Saeed Khan

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn MoreNEW! The Small Batches Slack AppToyota Kata Pocket GuideThe Flow Collective (Come join Saeed and I)Saeed's post on the Business Vision, Prod...

Lean Leadership

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn MoreNEW! The Small Batches Slack AppToyota Kata Pocket GuideSmall Batches #77: Managing to LearnSmall Batches #76: The Coaching HabitSmall Batch...

Managing to Learn

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam summarizes John Shook's book "Managing to Learn" on the A3 problem-solving process.Show Notes☕️ Small Batches #53: The Toyota Way☕️ Small...

The Coaching Habit

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn MoreNEW! Get Small Batches Slack AppToyota Kata Pocket GuideSmall Batches #53: The Toyota WaySmall Batches #39: The High-Velocity Edge (Part One...

DevOps 101

30 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recommend Reading📘 The New Economics by Dr. Deming📘 The High-Velocity Edge by Dr. Steven Spear📘 The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge📘 The T...

System Archetypes

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Free ResourcesNEW! The Small Batches Slack App for TeamsToyota Kata Pocket GuideThe Flow CollectiveLinksSmall Batches #65: Systems ThinkingThe Fifth D...

Lean Software Delivery 101

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recommend Reading📘 The New Economics by Dr. Deming📘 The High-Velocity Edge by Dr. Steven Spear📘 The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge📘 The T...

Percent Complete and Accurate

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Free ResourcesNEW! The Small Batches Slack App for TeamsToyota Kata Pocket GuideThe Flow CollectiveLinksSmall Batches #1: The DevOps HandbookSmall Bat...

Recommend Reading

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Recommend Reading📘 The New Economics by Dr. Deming📘 The High-Velocity Edge by Dr. Steven Spear📘 The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge📘 The T...

Deployment Pipelines

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

LinksSmall Batches #17: Continuous Delivery with Dave FarleySmall Batches #63: Modern Software EngineeringMinimum Viable Continuous Delivery ★ Su...

PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act)

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Explore the tip of scientific thinking, lean, and kaizen with Dr. Deming's PDCA loop.Free ResourcesNEW! The Small Batches Slack App for TeamsToyota Ka...

Inflection Points

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

LinksSmall Batches #22: Boundaries with Derek ComartinSmall Batches #38: Dev Environments with Bryan Finster ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★...

The Red Beads

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Free ResourcesNEW! The Small Batches Slack App for TeamsToyota Kata Pocket GuideThe Flow CollectiveDevOps Email CourseProject to Product Email CourseW...

The 5S Method

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How to use the 5S method plus the PFEP (Plan for Every Part) to reach the target condition of stable production operations.Free ResourcesNEW! The Smal...

Systems Thinking

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Free ResourcesNEW! The Small Batches Slack App for TeamsToyota Kata Pocket GuideThe Flow CollectiveDevOps Email CourseProject to Product Email CourseW...

Canary Deploys

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This one comes from the episode jar. Canary deploys use deploy an experimental change prior to a larger change. If the canary change is successful, th...

Modern Software Engineering

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A look into the ideas of empiricism, iteration, and incrementalism applied to software engineering. These are the code ideas of Dave Farley's 2022 boo...

The Four Types of Problems

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents "The Four Types of Problems" by Art Smalley. The types are troubleshooting, gap from standard, target condition, and open-ended.Learn Mo...

Extreme Programming

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Let's go back in time to linger on the works of the master thinkers. This episode presents Kent Beck's book "Extreme Programming Explained". I'm hard-...

The Principles of Product Development Flow

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents a summary of Donald Reinertsen's 2009 book. Tl;DR: understand the price of work, optimize for flow through queues, use WIP constraints, ...

Time Thieves

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents the "five time thieves" described in Dominica DeGrandis' book Making Work Visible. The thieves are: too much WIP (work-in-progress), unk...

Queuing Theory

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam presents applying the mathematics behind queueing theory to software delivery. Also, an announcement!LinksNEW! The Small Batches Slack App for Te...

Software Delivery Glossary

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Entries include:Software Delivery KPIsLead TimeDeployment FrequencyMTTR (Mean-time-to-resolve)Change Failure RateJidokaKaizenType 3 Problems: target-c...

Flow Mapping with Steve Pereira

27 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The third of a three-part conversation on flow engineering with Steve Pereira.Steve Pereira, aka "The Value Stream Guy", is the author of the Flow Eng...

Flow Engineering with Steve Pereira

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The second of a three part conversation on flow engineering with Steve Pereira.Steve Pereira, aka "The Value Stream Guy", is the author of the Flow En...

Flow and Value with Steve Pereira

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The first of a three part conversation on flow engineering with Steve Pereira.Steve Pereira, aka "The Value Stream Guy", is the author of the Flow Eng...

The Toyota Way

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam revists the ideas that created Toyota after learning from The High Velocity Edge and The New Economics.Jeffery Liker's "The Toyota Way" presents ...

Dr. Deming on Variation with John Willis

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is the third episode in a three-part conversation on Dr. Deming with John Willis. Adam and John dial in on one of the core tenets of the System o...

System of Profound Knowledge with John Willis

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The second episode is a three-part conversation on Dr. Deming with John Willis. Adam and John focus on Deming's second book The New Economics which in...

Introducing Dr. Deming with John Willis

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is the first of a three-part conversation on Dr. Deming with John Willis. Adam and John Willis introduce Dr. Deming through his books Out of the ...

Dr. Deming on Variation

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is the first episode of a few episodes on Dr. Deming's works. Adam recaps Dr. Deming's "System of Profound Knowledge" principle: understanding va...

The High-Velocity Edge with Steve Spear

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam welcomes Steve Spear to the show to discuss his 2009 book "The High-Velocity Edge." This is the last episode in the series.Adam and Steve reflect...

The High-Velocity Edge: Part Nine

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

My closing thoughts on the book before the next episode featuring my conversation with Steven Spear. Part nine of a ten-part series on the 2009 book T...

The High-Velocity Edge: Part Eight

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode demonstrates the third capability, knowledge sharing, and the fourth, developing skills in others, through Toyota's "jishuken" exercise. ...

The High-Velocity Edge: Part Seven

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The episode covers applying a disciplined problem-solving method to achieve the second capability. Part seven of a ten-part series on the 2009 book Th...

The High-Velocity Edge: Part Six

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode completes the discussion on the first capability: system design and operation by identifying the four levels of system design and their a...

The High Velocity Edge: Part Five

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode continues discussing system design and operations with a focus on using "jidoka" to build in quality control into systems. Part five of a...

The High-Velocity Edge: Part Four

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part four of a ten-part series on the 2009 book The High-Velocity Edge by Steven Spear. This episode introduces the two pillars of the first capabilit...

The High-Velocity Edge: Part Three

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode tells how Admiral Hyman Rickover demonstrated the four capabilities while creating the US Navy's nuclear reactor (or NR) program. Part th...

The High Velocity Edge: Part Two

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode demonstrates the four capabilities through Alcoa's commitment to changing its safety culture. Part two of a ten-part series on the 2009 b...

The High-Velocity Edge: Part One

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part one of a nine-part series on the 2009 book The High-Velocity Edge by Steven Spear. This episode demonstrates how complex systems fail through th...

Dev Environments with Bryan Finster

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Enjoy this meme-ready episode with Bryan Finster.Bryan Finster leads a DevOps dojo at a Fortune 50 enterprise where he helps teams deliver to producti...

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team with Dave Mangot

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam welcomes Dave Mangot to the show for a book discussion. The classic leadership and management book is "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team". Adam &am...

Transforming Conversations with Jeffrey Fredrick & Douglas Squirrel

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Level up your soft skills with this episode on "Agile Conversations". The episode begins with a short introduction to the book then dives into the con...

Value Streams with Carmen de Ardo

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam welcomes Carmen de Ardo to the show. Carmen is a senior VSM strategist at TaskTop and author of numerous books on value streams, leaderships, Dev...

Team Topologies with Matthew Skelton

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam welcomes Matthew Skelton to the show. Matthew is co-author of the book "Team Topologies" and a DevOps Enterprise Summit speaker. This episode bui...

Developer Principles with Markus Schirp

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam welcomes Markus Schirp to the show. Markus is an independent software professional. He calls himself a "dynamic language exorcist." He's also the...

Saltside Chronicles with Sebastian Dahlgren

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adam welcomes Sebastian Dahlgren to the show. Sebastian is now the CTO at Saltside. Sebastian joined Saltside just after the rewrite completed and con...